1 minute animation
A one-minute look at ZIMA, how it moves across the hull, and why prevention matters more than reactive cleaning.
Prevention-first hull maintenance
Stop biofouling before it becomes drag.
Subvision is building ZIMA, a hull-climbing subsea rover designed to prevent early-stage biofouling on commercial ship hulls. Instead of waiting for buildup and cleaning later, ZIMA is built to keep hulls cleaner through short, repeatable maintenance passes.
Prototype footage
ZIMA on the water.
A close look at the prototype during a supervised shoreline trial.
ZIMA on the water
A close look at the ZIMA prototype during a shoreline trial.
Why this matters
Biofouling raises fuel use.
Hull condition is not just a maintenance issue. It affects vessel efficiency, coating life, emissions, and ecosystem risk at the same time. Subvision’s approach is to intervene early, so operators need less aggressive action later.
Our journey
From proof of concept to a system built for real hull conditions.
The progression matters because it shows how the team works: build, test, learn, and tighten the system with each iteration.
Prototype development
Close-up work on the rover's drive hardware before the shoreline trial.
Early exploration
Early hands-on exploration of underwater robotics.
Current ZIMA design
Render of the current ZIMA direction, showing the rover layout and treatment architecture on the hull.
Build and field demos
Preparing and lowering the rebuilt prototype into the water for a supervised shoreline trial.
Awards and partner traction
External support and public validation helped move the project from student build to venture-ready system.
Machining and assembly
Hands-on work behind ZIMA.
Component finishing
Workbench assembly, plus Dennis finishing a component with a Dremel by the stairs.
Shoreline assembly
Hands-on work on the electronics housing and connections before a water trial.
Simulation demo
ZIMA in simulation.
Early simulation work exploring ZIMA's motion, pathing, and system behavior alongside the physical build.
Simulation demo
Early simulation of ZIMA’s motion and pathing. Real-world passes would use tighter, more closely spaced patterns.
Funding sourced
$56k raised in non-dilutive funding
Total funding sourced across public programs, institutional backing, and awards.
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$32K
Ocean Startup Project support through Ocean Idea Challenge and Ocean Startup Challenge.
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$6K
SFU Engineering Student Society support that helped back the team during early prototype development.
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$13.5K
Supported by the Chang Institute in building the business behind the technology.
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$1K
SFU OppFest prize support that added early validation and showcase visibility.
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$3.5K
Leo Maddox Prize through the Environmental Innovation Challenge, recognizing the project's ocean and environmental relevance.
Partner conversations
Help move ZIMA into pilots, validation, and deployment.
Subvision is looking for technical collaborators, pilot partners, and operators who want a better path to keeping hulls clean over time.